Subproject 6 "A Multi-Site Experiment to Evaluate the Double Cropping System on six Sites in Germany – "2cult"

High crop yields, high biomass quality and environmentally sustainable agricultural concepts are the goals of a future-oriented cultivation of energy plants. One way of achieving these goals is by increasing the variety of crops in a double cropping system („2-cult“). This concept of cultivation and supply has been established nearly 15 years ago by SCHEFFER and STÜLPNAGEL (1993) and has since been further developed. Subproject 6 will assess the concept in-depth in (today) seven different environments in Germany. Field trials of three years duration at these sites (see map) are aimed at detecting advantages and site-specific limitations of this cultivation system applying a wide range of primary and secondary grown crops (see photos). The system will be compared with conventional methods of growing cover and intermediary crops.